More than 50,000 keen cyclists have already signed up for the 2014 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 - just 24 hours after the ballot opened.

The event can cater for 80,000 people so places for the race on August 10 next year are running out fast.

Event Director Hugh Brasher said: "It took us nearly five months to get to this landmark figure in the first year.

"As the largest inaugural timed mass-participation event in the world, this amazing response – only eight days after our first event – shows that Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 is destined to become one of the must-do events of 2014.’’

More than 15,000 amateur cyclists finished the first event two weeks ago after cycling 100 miles from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, out through the capital and into the Surrey Hills before returning to a heroes’ welcome on The Mall in central London.